Today is world bird Wed.I have chosen pictures of the great crested flycatcher.This bird migrates from south of the US border to here in Pa in the spring,in May.I first started seeing one single bird,but now I have a pair.They usually show up ,I`ve noticed, when I start putting out Spalding`s Fly Predators.We had biting flies after getting the goats & I decided to try these insects,I get them in the mail starting in April or May & put them out during spring & summer months here.They eat the biting fly larva.The birds like them also,they eat their casings too.The bugs are very tiny,but there is a shell-like casing that`s left in the bag when they emerge.I really believe that they attracted the flycatchers.
The great crested flycatchers will nest in bluebird boxes or cavities in trees,mine make nests in the pine trees.They are described as bullies,but I have not found them to be that way.On the other hand,the robins & thrashers have driven them out of the pine tree they had wanted to nest in last year,but they did make nests in another pine tree.Alot of times they will use snake skins to line their nests.I have not seen their nests,I read that info in books.The coloring & their call is what drew me.The call sounds like a police whistle police use in cities sometimes to direct traffic.It sounds exactly like that.The coloring of them is gray with a yellow body with some olive/green feathers too.Their head is a little flat.
Go to the springman`s blog to check out the fun of seeing alot of different birds from all parts of the world.
http://thepineriverreview.blogspot.com/
